How to Start a Career in Publicity

Interested in becoming a publicist or PR guru? The best way to go about it is by throwing yourself in the game. Here are some tips on how to get your foot in the door and start a career in publicity.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Time to develop your abilities
• Willingness to learn

1. Develop your writing skills. The ability to write interesting press releases, media alerts, e-mails and advertising is the key to being a good publicist. Spend time developing your writing skills. Keeping a diary or blog is a good practice to get into, and try to do a bit of writing every day. Writing on any subject is a great habit to develop that will improve your writing skills overall.
2. Take an internship. The best way to get experience in a new field is to take an internship. If you are currently in school it should be very easy to find one with assistance from your career placement office. Other good places to look for internships are online listing services such as Craigslist, Monster, and Yahoo Hot Jobs.
3. Be willing to start at the bottom and to work your way up. Taking an internship may not be a possibility for you, as many are unpaid and part time. If that is the case, be willing to start at the bottom in an entry level job. Depending on the city you live in, expect to take a pay cut if you have little to no experience. The positive side of this is a little experience in publicity can go a long way. If you are dedicated, serious about learning, respectful, and keep your ego in check, your abilities will shine through in no time at all.
4. Once you have some experience, you can start looking for a better paying position. However, as with any situation, it is very important that you do not burn your bridges. If you are in an internship situation, make sure you fulfill your contract or commitment before moving on. Check with your company’s Human Resources department and find out if there are any positions you can move into.
5. If there is not any room for growth at your current place of employment, it is fine to discretely look around. Remain professional at all times, and make sure that you leave on the good side of ALL your colleagues. You never know who you may end up working with, or for, in the future. Work your connections. Use what you know, who you know, the experiences you have gained and trust your instincts.